Canucks deal Gaudette to Blackhawks for Highmore

The Vancouver Canucks have traded forward Adam Gaudette to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for forward Matthew Highmore, the team announced Monday.

Gaudette carries a cap hit of $950,000 and is set to become a restricted free agent after this season. Drafted by the Canucks in the fifth round in 2015, he's registered 52 points in 153 career NHL games.

The 24-year-old was removed from the NHL's COVID-19 protocol list Sunday as Vancouver continues to deal with its outbreak.

Highmore, 25, is under contract through the 2021-22 season with a $725,000 cap hit. He's notched 10 points in 73 games over three NHL campaigns and is averaging under nine minutes of ice time per game this season.

The two clubs agreed to a second trade later Monday. The Canucks dealt a fourth-round pick to the Blackhawks in exchange for a fifth-rounder and defenseman Madison Bowey, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.